Château Calon-Ségur is a favourite among French wine buffs. Despite “only” being a third growth in the 1855 classification, Calon-Ségur is considered one of the best in Bordeaux wines, with many believing one of the best in the world. The wine ages extremely well, and from an investment point of view, offer steady returns to the French wine collector. This is an expensive wine; market value is currently averaging around €1,161 per bottle. Lower prices can be found for the 2013 vintage (approx. €814) while the exquisite 1982 vintage currently trades at over €2,324.

Third growth does not mean third best. In 1855, when Napoleon III ordered that French wines were given classification, the government ranked them according to reputation and price. Other third growth wines include Kirwan (Margaux), Lagrange (St. Julien), Giscours (Margaux) and Lalagune (Haut-Medoc), making Calon-Ségur in good company! There are 14 third growth wines in total. There are just five first growth wines and eleven second growths.

Château Calon-Ségur has traditionally been one of the more discreet vineyards in Bordeaux, to the point that road signs directing you to the property did not exist. There was no website. The owner was notorious in scheduling appointments with the press, only to cancel them at the last minute, or simply not show up. All that changed however in 2012 when a French insurance company acquired the vineyard and began a massive €20m renovation project. The wine’s secret past only added to the mystique, however, and vintages prior to 2012 are considered among the best. Buyers should note that production in the 1970s and 80s was compromised in quality, so wines from that era are not considered attractive when investing in French wine.

Today, the 55-hectare vineyard produces 80,000 bottles of the grand vin every year (20,000 cases) and is interesting as it is one of the very few walled vineyards in the left bank of Bordeaux.

Characterised by the heart on the label, the property was once owned by Nicolas Alexandre, Marquis de Ségur, who also owned first growth Château Latour and Château Lafite (along with Mouton-Rothschild, Pontet-Canet, d’Armailhac and Montrose). “I make wine at Lafite and Latour” he says, “but my heart belongs to Calon”.